Jeff Banister on what the Rangers went through on their way to first place

The Rangers won 6-5 on Tuesday to jump Houston for first place in the American League West, and manager Jeff Banister talked about what his team has experienced on the way to the top (video by Jeff Wilson).

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The Rangers won 6-5 on Tuesday to jump Houston for first place in the American League West, and manager Jeff Banister talked about what his team has experienced on the way to the top (video by Jeff Wilson).

So why has his team surged past the Astros and taken hold of first place, Banister was asked?

“We’ve gotten good at figuring out how to win ball games,” the manager answered.

There’s no equation for that simple truth. There was scant logic, as well, when even veteran Rangers players were underperforming earlier in the season.

If you’re going to measure contenders by their season run differentials, Banister suggested, toss out things like the 21-5 loss to the Yankees or the three games in July when the Rangers were outscored by a combined 32 runs.

“Kick those games out and see where we’re at,” Banister said.

Banister, of course, is managing a lot different team than he was earlier in the season. There are new faces, such as Cole Hamels and two new relievers. New old faces, such as Mike Napoli. And faces that were frowning in April but broadly smiling in September, such as Shin-Soo Choo, Rougned Odor and Elvis Andrus.

Prince Fielder had three hits, two homers and five RBIs in Wednesday’s 14-3 victory over the Astros.

“The club has changed,” Banister said. “There are guys who are performing differently.”

Against Keuchel, the American League leader in earned-run average and wins, the Rangers teed off Wednesday for six hits and two home runs in the first inning.

“You saw some big hitters on a mission,” Banister said. “I think it goes back to having Napoli in the lineup against a left-hander and how it stretches our lineup out.”

The best example of the night’s pounding, however, was Prince Fielder, who had three hits, two homers and five RBIs.

“We talked about the big man in the middle and how he was close,” Banister said. “He wasn’t close tonight. He was a man on a mission. When he gets going, he’s as good as there is in the power game.”

The manager said his team “got punched in the mouth in April and tasted their own blood.”